Hinge



R. B. cox

HINGE Filed July 13, 1922' Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

RAY B. COX, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

HINGE.

Application filed July 13, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAY B. Cox, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Hinges, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates in general to hinges, and more particularly to aform of flush hinge adapted to be used for table tops and the like,where it is necessary and desirable that the hingebe positionedeither'below or flush with the upper surface of the table. Anotherobject is to provide a flush hinge of selffsupporting character which inaddition to performing the functions of a hinge, will also serve tosupport one member in horizontal alinement with another member, and thuseliminate the necessity for cleats, brackets, or other supports such asare used for table tops and the like.

A further object is to provide in a hinge of the character described, apair of main hinge noembers similar in form and character to'ordinarystrap hinges, which are pivot-ally connected together at their innerends at spaced points, instead of at a single point as in the case ofthe ordinary strap hinge. In other words, it is an object to provide alinked connection between the fulcrums of the two straps of the hinge,so that when the said.straps are folded together, their adjacent facesmay be in contact. r

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pair of straps,each of which is provided with right-angular abutments for contact witheach other, a plurality of links pivotally held on and connecting saidstraps, and a plurality of depending and abutting members adapted to befixedly held in the adjacent portions of the members to which the hingeis attached, so that when one of said members is extended relative tothe other, the upper surfaces of both members will be flush.

Other objects will appear as the description progresses.

I have shown one practical embodiment of my invention in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. -1 is a plan viewof my improved hinge shown in connection'with afragment of two table members which are hinged togather thereby.

Serial No. 574,686.

Fig. 2 is -a 22.

Fig. 3 is. an end View of the hinge with one set of the connecting linksand abutments omitted.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the lower side of the hinge in extendedposition.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of th hinge straps dis-asssembled.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the abutments dis-assembled.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the hinge links dis-assembled.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hinge in folded position.

Fig. 9 is a section of the hinge on line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a section of the same on line 1010 of Fig. 1.

By reference to the said drawings it will be observed that my hingeincludes a pair of straps 1, 1, each of which has elongated flat members2, 2, adapted to be secured to opposite members T'and T of a table orthe like, by means of screws which may be inserted through a pluralityof holes 3, 3, etc., therein. Members T and T of a table shelf or thelike are relatively foldable so that, for instance, the member T may befolded backwardly over the upper surface of the member T by means of myhinge. The members 1, 1, also have depending flat members l, 4, whichare integrally formed with and are disposed at right angles to theportions 2, 2, of the hinge, the members 1 being bent as shown in Fig. 5to form the portions 2 and 4, as shown.

At the bent portion 5 of the members 1, I provide a pair of elongatedapertures 6, 6, which are transversely spaced apart and are also spacedinwardly from the outer edges of members 1, 1. Said apertures are ofsuch width to accommodate a pair or more of links 7, as shown in Fig. 7and one or more of the abutments S such as is shown in Fig. 6. The links7 are'slightly elongatedand have spaced bores 9 and 10 therein which areadapted to receive hinge pins 11 and 12 resection of the same on linespectively. Said links also have an elongated central portion 13, andreduced portions 14, 14, at the ends thereof, whereby shoulders 15,15,are provided at the ends of the portion 13. V

The abutments 8 are of triangular form and constitute ribs for bracingthe opposite members 1, 1, against each other. Said members have bores16 formed therein and an enlargement 17 partially surrounding said bore,while the right angular edges 18 and 19 of member 8 is cut away belowthe edges 20 and 21 of said enlargement, so as to provide shoulders 22,22, at the extremes of said enlargement, and the bore 16 is adapted toreceive the hinge pins 11 or 12, as the case may be.

The hinge pins 11 and 12 are inserted in the bores 9 and 10 of the link7 and the bores 16 of the abutments 8, one of said abutments beingpositioned between a pair of said links on each of the pins 11 and'12,and a complete set of said members including a pair of links and asingle abutment is mounted on each of the members 1, and near the outeredges thereof, as shown, the links 7 being extended through the openings6, 6, in the members 1, and the pOItiOllSl, 4, of members 1, 1, beingpositioned in abutting relation, as shown.

Now, when the straps 1, 1, are extended as shown in Fig. 1, the edges 13of links 7, and the edges 21 of abutments8 will be held in the openings6, 6, in the straps and flush with the upper surface of the straps, andthe shoulders 15, 15, of the'links, and 22, 22, of the abutments willrest almost or not quite against the edges of the openings 6, 6.Likewise the edges 19- of the abutments will engage the lower surface ofthe portions 2, 2, of the hinges, while the edges 18 thereof will engagethe depending portions 4:, 1, and thus serve to hold the hinge together,so that the members 1, 1, may be adjusted relative to each other withoutdis-assembling the hinge, and the links 7 and abutments 8 will at alltimes be held in the position shown when the members l, 1, are movedinto any position about the axis of the pins 11 and 12.

The abutments 8' are adapted to be in serted in kerfs or grooves cut inthe members T and T, as'at 23 in Fig. 2, and the straps 1, 1, areadapted to'be countersunk in the upper surfaces of members T and T as inthe case of ordinary strap hinges. Thus, it will be seen as shown in thedrawings, that theopposite members 1, 1, of the hinge are pivotallyconnected together by means of the links 7 7, and the hinge pins 11 and12 at two spaced points, and the hinge when extended as shown in Fig. 4will be held in the position shown by means 4 of the shoulders 15, 15,on the links 7 which engage the ends of the apertures 6 in the straps. i

The .braces 8 are held between a'pair of the links 7 as shown, and theshoulders 22 thereon also engage the ends of the openings 6. N ow, whenthe hinge is attached to two relatively movable members, as at T and T,said members maybe extended into horizontal alinement as shown in "Figs.1

and 2, and held without any braces other than the members 8, 8, etc.,which serves to reinforce the hinge and hold the leaves of a table orextensible shelf in extended position.

It will be readily apparent that I may form the hinges of any suitableor necessary Width and that I may provide as many of the members 7 and 8as may be necessary to accomplish the'objects of my invention.

While I have shown my improved hinge in connection with a table top, Imay also use my hinge in other cases where a flush hinge is required andwhere it is necessary to provide, or desirable to do so, a rigid firmsupport for an extensiblemember.

As shown in Fig. 8 it will be observed that the members 1, 1, may befolded backwardly into contact so that the members T and T which areconnected by the hinge may be folded in like manner.

hat I claim is:

1. A hinge having a pair of straps provided with corresponding rightangular abutments and a plurality of spaced openings, a plurality oflinks hingedly connecting said straps together on opposite sides of saidabutments, and a plurality of supporting members intermediate saidlinks, hinge pins connecting said links and said supporting members,said supporting members having right, angularly formed faces forengagement with said straps and said abutments.

2. A hinge having a pair of straps provided with parallel spaced hingepins, links held on said pins for pivotally connecting said strapstogether, supporting members intermediate said links 011 each of saidhinge pins and having portions underlying said straps, and relativelyright angular depending portions, said straps having abutments forengagement with -said depending portions.

3. A hinge having a pair of straps provided with parallelspaced hingepins, links held on said pins for pivotally connecting said strapstogether, supporting members intermediate said links on each of saidhinge pins and having portions underlying said straps and relativelyright angular depending portions, said straps having abutments forengagement with said depending portions, said supporting members beingarranged in pairs, one member of each pair being carried on each of saidstraps, as described.

4:. A hinge including a pair of strap members having correspondingattaching portions and correspondingly formed abutting portions formedat right angles thereto, a plurality of openings eing formed in saidstrap members at the junction of said attaching portions and saidabutting portions, a plurality of links extended through the openings ofsaid strap members and carrying spaced parallel hinge pins, and aplurality of supporting members carried on said hinge pins for bracingsaid attaching portions and abutments, said links and said supportingmembers having enlargements extending into and for engagement With theedges of said openings.

5. Ahinge including a pair of like members having relatively rightangular attaching members and abutments formed of sheet metal, withspaced openings extending through said abutments and said attachingportions, a plurality of links extended through said openings, a pair ofspaced hinge pins carried in said links on the corres onding sides ofeach of said abutments an having enlargements extended into the openingsin said attaching members, and a plurality of supporting members carriedon said hinge pins and having relatively right angular portions engagingsaid attaching members and ,said abutments.

6. A hinge including a pair of like members having relatively rightangular attaching members and abutments formed of sheet metal, Withspaced openings extending through said abutments and said attachingportions, a plurality of links, extended through said openings, a pairof spaced hinge pins carried in said links on the corresponding sides ofeach of said abutments and having enlargements extended into theopenings in said attaching members, and a plurality of supportingmembers carried on said hinge pins and having relatively right angularportions engaging said attaching members and said abutments, saidsupporting members having enlargements extended into the openings ofsaid attaching members.

7. The combination of a pair of relatively foldable members, a rightangularly bent strap held on each of said members with the upper surfacethereof flush with the surface of said member and provided ithrelatively abutting portions extended downwardly over the adjacent edgesof said members, a

plurality of braces held in kerfs formed in said members and providedWith right angularly formed portions engaging the lower surfaces of saidstraps and the inner surfaces of said abutting portions, a hinge pinextended through the supporting members and each of said folded membersinteriorly of said abutting portions, and a plurality of links extendedthrough the abutting portions of said straps and pivotally held on saidpins for operatively connecting said foldable members together.

RAY B. COX. Witnesses:

A. Boss, T. H. MCGUIRE, Jr.

